March 4, 2006
SAN JOSE, Calif. - It will all come down to Sunday's rubber game of the Santa Clara-San Jose State set to determine which school earns the three Rivalry Series points. Saturday, the Broncos could not overcome a seven-run Spartan first inning and fell 11-5 at Blethen Field.
With the victory, San Jose State improves to 9-7. Santa Clara drops to 8-7. The Broncos had won the series opener between these teams, 4-2, at home on Friday night.
The Broncos were led offensively by Dustin Realini's three hits while Matt Long, Kris Watts, Eric Newton and Gabriel Alcantar each had a pair of hits.
Santa Clara struck first as a Kris Watts sacrifice fly plated the first run of the game, but the Broncos could not capitalize further, stranding two runners on base. San Jose State answered immediately, sending 13 batters to the plate in the first inning and chasing Broncos starter Justin Kuehn after only one-third of an inning and seven runs allowed.
The teams combined for 31 hits in the game, with the Spartans being led by David Pierson's four hits and the three hits apiece by Brody Massman and John Shaffer. Massman also doubled twice and drove in three runs while Shaffer doubled and had four RBIs.
Although the Broncos posted a run in each of the first three frames, the early seven-run hole proved to be too much to overcome, as San Jose State added a run in the second, two in the fourth and another in the eighth to prevent any hope of an SCU comeback.
The two teams will now return to Stephen Schott Stadium Sunday afternoon for the 1 p.m. rubber game. Three Rivalry Series points will be on the line as Santa Clara attempts to solidify its lead in the Series standings.